Nominees for the 77th Annual Academy Awards were announced Jan. 25. "The Aviator" — penned by playwright John Logan — received 11 nominations, the most of any film of the season just ended. It will vie for the Best Picture Oscar in a field that also includes "Finding Neverland," "Million Dollar Baby," "Ray" and "Sideways."

"The Aviator," the biography of Howard Hughes that explores his relationships with Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner, earned 11 nominations, including those for stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Alan Alda and Cate Blanchett. In addition to Best Picture, the film was also nominated for Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Film Editing, Best Picture, Sound Mixing and Writing (Original Screenplay). John Logan, the playwright of Never the Sinner, was nominated in the latter category. Logan is also reportedly adapting Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd for the silver screen.

"Finding Neverland," the touching film about playwright James M. Barrie and his writing of Peter Pan, earned seven nominations, including Best Picture. Johnny Depp was also nominated for his work as the late writer who influences an entire family. The film also picked up nominations for Art Direction, Costume Design, Film Editing, Music (Score) and Writing (Adapted Screenplay).

Joel Schumacher's "The Phantom of the Opera," based on the Tony Award-winning Andrew Lloyd Webber musical of the same name, earned three nominations, including those for Art Direction, Cinematography and Best Song ("Learn to Be Lonely"). And, the film adaptation of Patrick Marber's "Closer" — directed by Mike Nichols — scored two nominations: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Clive Owen) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Natalie Portman). Both Owen and Portman recently won Golden Globe Awards for their work in the film based on the acclaimed play.

Other nominees of interest to theatre fans: Theatre regulars Annette Bening and Laura Linney were nominated for their performances in, respectively, "Being Julia" and "Kinsey." Bening was nominated in the Actress in a Leading Role category and Linney in the Actress in a Supporting Role group. And, playwright Jose Rivera, whose Massacre (Sing to Your Children) will be presented in May by LAByrinth Theatre Company, was nominated for Writing (Adapted Screenplay) for "The Motorcycle Diaries."